The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-26
AN ODD RACE OF PEOPLE
Rev. DR.. Parkhurst's Interesting De-
scription Of the Ways Of the Japanese.
They Are the French of Asia, and They Do
Many Clever Things in Strange Ways
Their immortality and Dishonesty.

There are few lectures more interes ing than
that which Rev NJ Nj. Parkhurst, professor of
practical theology at DePauw University, delv-
cred at Roberts Park Church last evening He
had tarried long enough in the countries that he
visited to get at the reasons of things, and to
understand the social customs of the people in
those minor details which usually most in
terestine to strangers. He told what he saw IN
pleasant, easy way, prefacing his explanation
of the stereoptcon views with a sketch of che
country and some OF Its characteristics
He said: 1--WE sighted Japan on drizzly
night 1t looked like a mountain range 1t is
composed of mountainous islands-four large
ones and great mum Der of small ones-rising ao-
ruptly from deep water Almost any Japanese
can reach deep sea water to fish and get back
the same day. The climatic conditions are
s1ch that the mountains wet nearly
all the time. either by rain or fog
There is ocean-current. like the gulf
stream coming from the East Indies and flow
ing along the coast This makes the air warm.
The does not shine much as it does here,
and the vegetation is not of deep green. but
PALE like that of the British islands, The land
is very fruitful, though hiliy. It is laid off in
terraces. held in place by stone walls In the
lower ones, far up water can be flowed
into them, rice is cultivated. Above the rice
sweet potatoes raised, and still higher up
they raise tea. The best tea is that picked in
the soriug, the poorest that picked in the fall
The same plants may furnish all grades of tea.
Fish form great food staple. and are taken in
many ways. One day soon after l arrived 1
saw a standing log in the river. He
had small dipnet in his hand. On the end of
the log was cormorant with ring about his
elxx I'D ftA vafa
and came to the log with fish in his mouth the
put his net over the birds head, and by
twist took the fish in his net, from which he
transferred it to his pouch. the ring was put
about the birds neck when it was young, and
its head had grown so that it could not get it
off. II it hal not been for the ring the bird
would have swallowed the fish. They sell their
fish alive. They have buckets like the end of a
barrel about two inches deep, in which they
put some water aud carry the fish about IN
them.
Everything they do seems the reverse OF our
customs. They towards themselves and
plane towards themselves The men sew. and
in sewing they push the needle from them.
They stand their horses in the stalls with their
heads ont l asked man why they did not
turn them the other way, and he said the horse
would get more fresh air with his head that
way, and besides. a not usually IN
hurry when he put his horse NJ. but he might be
when be took him our, and not have time to
they live on the other side OF the earth and
have their heads down ali the time. it comes
natural for them to do opposite TO
They very kindly, pleasant, affable Poo
pie. Thev very cieanly. | think they battle
oftener than any people on earth. The common
vehcle of the country is a two-wheeled cart
pulled by coolies These men go quite rapidly.
One of them pulled me forty miles in one day,
to the top of mountain range. making an as
cent of 6 coo feet They do wear the shoes
in the house that they wear out of DOORS hercs
their houses marveouslY clean They tend
their gardens carefully, and trim their
everereens in fantastic shapes II you look in
a garden at night it appears full of elephants
and other animals The women put their hair
up in fancifu shapes. butterflies. fans and other
objects being initiated. 1t is dressed with sort
of gluten and becomes hard when dry. 1t will
retain its shane for a month after dressing.
They have bonuets. By the wav. 90 you know
that two thirds of the women on the earth never
saw a bonnet, and they would not know what
do with some of them If they did see then! Tho
men wear hats. The japanese do not wear
pig-tails. They shave their hair through the
center and bring the sides to knot at the top
THE country is beautiful to see and delight
ful to travel through. but the people,
honor. purity and veraciry are in a deplorab.e
state. There is no such thing as business honor
among them. No believes anyone with
whom he is dealing. 1t was for many years the
custom for anyone who wanted to get rid of
girl to sell her to tea-house. Girls who had no
one to look after them were sold in the same
way. These tea-houses scattered all over
the country, like saloons. The tea is served by
girls exclusively, and these girls also kept
there for vile purposes. This is universal If
the girl who serves you is sent from the
room the keeper comes to ask il she has been
inpudent has done anything out of the way.
Formerly, if a girl ran away from one of these
houses the police brought her back and com
PEELED her to stay, but by the force of foreign
influence this has been changed, and a
girl may abandon this life If she wishes to
do
1.-THE Japanese very volatile and tickle in |
everything. One may give 81 500 for fancy |
pig to-day. and a year from now he would not |
accept it as a present. They are the French of |
Asia; the Chinese the Germans. Converts |
to Christianity made much easily |
among the japanese than among the Chinese,
but you never tell how long they will
main Christians. The Chinese understand the |
perseverance of the saints and practice it."
DIR. Parkhurst then introduced his stereopti- !
views illustrating the modes of travel, man
nsrs and customs. architecture, monuments and |
scenery of the country and the personal appear |
ance of the peoule. This accom- panied by |
explanation and Information which
tremely entertaining and interesting. but which |
could not be reproduced without the pictures.
No could fail to learn a great deal about
Japan and the japanese by hearing him and |
seeing the views Tonight he lectures on |
'India. from the Sea to the Himaiayas," illus |
stratin2 il as In the lecture last night